FAU classes cater to older adults: ‘Never too late’
Participants enjoy a foreign policy presentation at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on the FAU Boca Raton campus. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Jan Norris
A slogan at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FAU says it all: “Where learning never retires.”
The institute provides classes in a variety of subjects in a lecture or seminar format — but with no textbooks, no homework and no tests. While open to all, the programs are tailored to older adults, many of whom earned college degrees in the previous century.
“The majority of our students are retirees,” said Jill Rosen, interim director of OLLI, as it is known.
Between the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses, Florida Atlantic University has about 5,000 OLLI members who pay $60 a year to get discounted prices for classes and advance notice for popular speakers. Classes, priced individually, cost from $34 for members to $80 or more for multiweek courses or VIP lectures; bundling brings other discounts.
Robert Reeves, 78, has been attending classes since 2014, when he and his wife moved down to Boca Raton permanently from Manhattan.
“We started going right away. My wife and I are enthusiastic about it. The breadth of their programs, from current events, political, medical, music, self-help, history, art — there’s something for all interests,” he said.
Reeves favors courses on history or current events, but recently signed up for a crime scene investigation course.
“My wife is really into the crime shows; we took that together,” he said. “I learned some things. I thought what was interesting, the guy worked in the field for the New York PD. He said the shows were somewhat accurate, but compressed into an hour.”
Reeves also goes in for lighter, entertainment–themed classes; some are concerts performed by local bands.
“Sometimes we go out with friends. It’s like going out for a night,” he said.
Reeves also took a course on ChatGPT. He attends multiweek history courses, as well as classes on movies and theater.
“I enjoy the history courses the most,” he said. “I think it’s a wonderful institution. It’s reasonable and convenient.
“For quality and content, you can’t beat it.”
Variety of courses
Courses run the gamut from detailed discourse on Renaissance natural magic and the scientific revolution, to a two-part lecture on Diana Ross.
Other titles in the upcoming catalog include Cuba, a History and a Present; Dealing with Overwhelming Anxiety: Insights from a Psychologist Holocaust Survivor; the Modern Legacy of 1776; the Art of Tango; and Sounds of Music: Simon and Garfunkel.
Ed and Ferne Emmer of Boca Raton have been students at OLLI for three years. He, too, likes the diverse class offerings, and just finished a two-part seminar on Cher.
“I’m not sure why I took it,” Ed said. “But she led a really interesting life.
“Time just flew by; you sort of wished there was another hour. The professor made it really interesting. He was so engaging.”
Lifelong Learning students Ed and Ferne Emmer of Boca Raton interact with the Quantum Jungle exhibit inside the MAD Arts in Dania Beach, one of the off-campus outings on the course schedule.
Excursions are offered
Judy Scara, the associate director of programs, books the professors and other experts. Some are faculty and give the traditional lecture; others are brought in to provide interactive seminars where students are part of the class curriculum.
She gave an example of a seminar about birth order.
Before his talk, the instructor separated the class into firstborns, then middle children, then babies. “It was really engaging,” she said. “Everyone loved it.”
The spring catalog with courses and excursions is now available.
“I try to mix it up with diverse things,” Scara said. “They said they want to get into excursions, so I book fun things to get the students off campus.”
She’s had a wine-tasting trip, an Everglades tour, and a trip to MAD Arts in Dania Beach, a digital interactive art gallery. Upcoming plans include a trip to PopStroke, the new Tiger Woods mini-golf venture.
Lifelong Learning students interact with the The Junk Machine (2024), a work by conceptual artist ClownVamp, inside the MAD Arts in Dania Beach.
Recently in Jupiter, OLLI students went to an artist’s class to make Turkish lamps.
“One of the students asked me to take her picture with her lamp. I did, and she said, ‘Now write under it: It’s never too late to learn.’ She’s 93,” Scara said.
That’s the mission of OLLI, Rosen said. “There are people who look for these programs to find a retirement community. They want to stay engaged. It really drives some to choose this area.
“We have an amazing program,” Rosen said. It is one of the largest in the country.
FAU president’s interest
The institute has been operating since 1980. It is self-funded, with student course fees helping pay instructors, staff and maintenance.
The new president at FAU, Adam Hasner, is refocusing on the institute.
“He brings an understanding of what this population can bring to FAU,” Rosen said. “He wants this to be part of the Hometown University,” the theme used to showcase the classes to area residents.
Most classes are held in the Ely Meyerson Continuing Education Hall, a state-of-the-art auditorium that seats 500.
For special speakers, Scara said, it sells out. Members get first dibs on popular lectures.
The pandemic took a toll on attendance, however.
“This population is particularly vulnerable,” she said, “so many stayed home. Their communities stepped up their programs, and some people have not returned. But we’re hoping our programs will bring them back to campus.”
Her spring catalog is the result of suggestions from patrons, board members and the students, and builds on past programs that proved popular.
Hot topics always include politics and current events such as the Middle East peace talks. Big-name commentators, such as Chuck Todd and Jon Meacham, will speak this spring, and Major Garrett and John Martin will give a presidential run-up lecture.
“Sometimes it’s banging the bushes for new and interesting topics,” Scara said. “I want to keep the energy up. We have a lot of repeat patrons, and you want to keep it fresh. They want to learn something new.”
’Exciting professors’
Margarita Castellon is secretary of the board for OLLI. She’s also chair of the marketing committee, a volunteer position.
“I’ve been involved for seven years,” she said. “I take about 15 classes every semester. I leave behind at least 10 classes I’d like to go to.”
She has a master’s degree from Harvard and compares Jeffrey Morton, an FAU political science professor, with Ivy Leaguers. “We have the most exciting professors. Nationally recognized folks,” she said.
FAU professor Jeffrey Morton gives a presentation on foreign policy at the Boca Raton campus.
Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of books on presidents, is a great draw, Castellon said.
Martin, Politico’s senior political columnist, sits for “fireside chats” with FAU’s Hasner. Morton, “he’s our rock star,” Rosen said, as a speaker on world politics. His current-events lectures sell out.
The social aspect of OLLI is also important. “It’s a lifeline for some people,” Scara said. “We are the third space for a lot of people. It’s not their home, not their work, but the place where they can come and be comfortable and safe.”
Many students have been caretakers for a spouse, or have lost a spouse. The classes are a way to become engaged again, she said. “We’re really like a second home for some.”
The OLLI staff also encourages the formation of special-interest groups.
“We had a very popular lecture this year about bird watching, called Bird Nerding. We encouraged the students to form a group to connect outside of class,” Scara said.
Other groups include book clubs and a glee chorus.
Arleen Roberts, 85, of Boca Raton, is part of the volunteer marketing committee. Originally from Massachusetts and a snowbird, she has been a permanent resident for 22 years and was taking OLLI courses long before the pandemic shut them down for months.
“They’ve come a long way,” she said. “The speakers really know their stuff.”
She goes to lectures by Richard Rene Silvin on local history, or watches international films with Shelly Isaacs’ commentary.
Keeping the mind engaged
Roberts likes that some lectures are “edutainment,” but says others also attract her.
“The talent is here,” she said. “I’m willing to try something different. Something that didn’t necessarily jump out at me. Some turn out to be not so great, but others are wonderful, and engaging.”
The Boca Raton classes are convenient, too, she said. A new parking area directly across from the auditorium makes it easy to get in and out of class. “They bused us over before,” Roberts said. “It was hard for some people.”
Roberts also likes that the staff has brought back excursions, canceled during the pandemic. She’s looking forward to a private tour of the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach in February as part of the group.
“We’re so lucky to have this in Boca,” she said. “Who needs New York?”
Ed Emmer says he does miss the Big Apple, but OLLI fills a void in Boca Raton.
“I’ve lived my whole life in big cities, New York and London. I love it here from November to May. From June to October, I like New York.”
Emmer is in his third year of classes. He likes all the history classes but plans to attend a lecture on Peter, Paul and Mary with friends from his building.
From the earliest wars in the Middle East to the French and American revolutions, to modern wars, centuries are covered. Speakers propose new angles and throw out ideas about alternate outcomes to engage student discussion.
“I sat in a class on Abraham Lincoln and immigration. One of the professors from the university interviewed the speaker, then there were questions from the audience,” Emmer said. “It was really interesting and relevant.”
He said the experience of sitting with like-minded students in the comfort of the main auditorium, along with the use of technology, encourages him to return. Screens display simultaneous captioning during lectures. Catch-up videos are available in case people miss classes. “Technology is clearly advancing,” he said.
Ferne Emmer has some interests that differ from her husband’s. She has taken several courses on cinema.
The Thin Man series was “really interesting,” she said. She’ll go back for a lecture on Katharine Hepburn soon.
The Emmers found out about OLLI from a friend.
“I was looking for something to keep me engaged,” Ed said. “I’m not a golfer. I’m not a boater. I was looking for something to expand my knowledge. You have to keep moving, body and mind.”
It’s easy to fall into the trap of sitting around a pool and “do whatever, and doze off. It’s important to keep your body active with exercise. But it’s just as important to keep your mind active.”
For more information about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, visit Olli.fau.edu.
